The protests against Manchester United owners – the Glazer family – have been joined by yet another powerful ally. Former United star Ashley Young has thrown his support behind the movement.
The postponement of the game between Manchester United and Liverpool last Sunday was seen as a major victory by the anti-Glazers protesters. United fans had stormed Old Trafford, which inevitably led to the match being called off. In the aftermath of the events, the anti-Glazers protests have been praised and criticized in equal measure, with several former football players taking one side or the other.
Former Manchester United player Ashley Young definitely understands the plight of the fans and has thrown his own support behind them. In an interview with Sky Sports, the Englishman addressed the protests and what he hopes can be gained from them.
“A lot was said about it happening because of the Super League, but I know United fans and that’s not just what it was,”
“This is going back years and years with the owners, and the fans want to make their point. Obviously, you don’t want to see a protest getting violent, you just want to see a protest where [the owners] are aware and that they understand the anger the fans have got about things that have gone on in the past.”
he told Sky Sports.
Young did condemn some of the violence that took place as part of the protests. However, he continued to back the fans, stating that hopefully, the owners will see what they are demanding.
“United fans have been asking for change for a long while, so maybe we’ll see changes, maybe we won’t. I think there’s a lot of things in football that need to be addressed and that is one of them.”
Young spent nearly a decade of his career at Old Trafford. The winger joined Manchester United from Aston Villa in 2011 and enjoyed moderate success in his early years at the club. However, the club as a whole suffered from the departure of Sir Alex Ferguson. Young played in a variety of positions for Ferguson’s successors and was later refurbished into a full-back. He left United to join Inter Milan in January 2020 and won the Serie A title in 2021.
